Identification device.



G. S. GUY. IDENTIFICATION DEVICE. APPLIOATION 11.31) we. 24, 1911.

1,034,107. Patented Jul 30,1912.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPI} C0,. WASHINGTON. D. Q.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE S. GUY, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

IDENTIFICATION DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE S. GUY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Identification Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in devices for marking articles of various kinds and especially articles for per sonal use, such for example as baggage, umbrellas and the like for identification, thereby insuring such articles against loss, and it has for its object primarily to provide a simple and improved device of this character having means for readily attaching it to articles of various kinds and embodying a flexible tag or strip that is normally in visible and. protected and inclosed compactly within, an inclosing shell or casing, which tag or strip may be readily exposed to enable one to read the name and address or other appropriate inscription contained thereon, the tag or strip-carrying member of the device and also the inclosing mem her being so related to the attaching means as to enable these parts to be readily manipulated to expose or conceal the tag or strip but preventing detachment or loss of either part and retaining these parts normally in proper relation.

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide an identification device which is especially adapted for use on umbrellas, parasols and similar articles having tassels, the identification device according to the present invention being so constructed as to also resemble and serve as a tassel.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements, and combinat-ions and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawing :Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a handbag having attached thereto an identification device constructed in accordance with one embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of the identification device showing the same closed and the identification tag or strip rolled and inclosed within the shell or casing; Fig. 3 represents a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing the de- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. August 24., 1911.

Patented July 30, 1912.

Serial No. 645,692.

the inscription thereon; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a somewhat different form of device which is especially adapted for use in connection with um- ,rellas, parasols and similar articles hav ing tassels, the identification device in this instance-serving as a tassel; and Fig. 6 shows an unbrella or parasol handle provided with an identification device as shown in Fig. 5.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the several views.

In Figs. 1 to t inclusive, I have shown an identification device which is adapted for use generally in connection with various kinds of articles, it being especially adapt-- ed for use in connection with handbags and other articles of baggage. In this form of the invention, the device comprises a shell or casing 1 which may be of any suitable shape and of appropriate size, the shell in the present instance being approximately spherical in shape. The shell is closed at the bottom except for a relatively small aperture 2 and at the top it has a relatively larger opening 3 which is preferably diametrically opposite to the opening 2. An annular recess 4 is also preferably formed within the shell 1 and surrounds the lower opening 2 for a purpose to be described. A tag or strip-carrying member is provided which also serves as a closure for the shell lwhen applied thereto. This tag or stripcarrying member in the present emb0diment of the invention comprises a head or cap 5 formed with a circular shoulder '6 which is adapted to fit detachably within the aperture 3 in the top of the shell. Different means may be provided for detachably connecting these parts. In the present instance, a frictional. engagement between the parts is utilized to hold them in normal relation. The head or cap 5 has a peri'ph: eral flange 7 which projects beyond the exterior of the adjacent portion of the shell and enables the cap or head to be detached from the shell with facility. The head or cap 5 has a sleeve or tubular extension 8 rigidly secured thereto, this sleeve or tubular extension of the cap or head being in axial alinement with the opening 2 at the bottom of the shell. when the cap or head is a strip of cloth, vellum, or other flexible material is provided and is adapted to contain a name and address or other appropriate inscription. One end of the tag is fixed to the sleeve or tubular extension of the head or cap 5 while the other end of the tag is unconnected. Different means may be provided for attaching the tag to the sleeve 8, it being preferable, however, to wrap this end of the tag about the sleeve and to secure it thereon by a split sleeve or tubular clamp 11. hile the head or cap 5 is applied to the shell, the chamber 12 of the latter which contains the woundup tag is completely closed and protected from moisture and other influences which might damage the tag and the tag at this time is retained in wound form by the outer wall of the annular recess 1 within which the lower end of the tag is seated.

According to the present invention, I provide means for attaching the identification device to various articles in such a way that the tag-carrying member may be readily removed to expose the tag and replaced to conceal and protect the tag, but the attaching means will prevent accidental separation and loss of either of the parts. A flexible member is preferably used which in that form of the invention sh own in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, comprises a chain 13 in the form of a loop, an enlarged ring 14 forming a partof the chain, this ring being of a diameter greater than the size of the opening 2 in the bot-tom of the shell and adapted to engage the bottom of the shell to support the identification device and to prevent its detachment from the chain, and the opposite end of the chain is adapted to be connected to a handle, ring, or other appropriate part of the article to which it is to be applied and this may be done readily by forming the upper end of the chain into a loop, as shown in Fig. 1.

In Figs. 5 and 6, a device of somewhat different form is shown, it resembling in appearance a tassel and may serve as a tassel when used in connection with umbrellas, parasols, and similar articles. In this instance, the shell of the identification device is of substantially cylindrical form and is made to resemble in appearance a tassel by winding a cord 15 upon its exterior. The tagcarrying member 16 is constructed similarly to the tag-carrying member of the form previously described and it is applied and removed relatively to the shell or casing in a similar way. In this form, however, the flexible member for attaching the device to the umbrella or parasol is in the form of a cord 17, the upper end of the cord being in the form of a loop so that it may be readily attached to the article while the lower end of the cord extends through the tag-carrying member 16 and the shell and has a knot 18 which engages the lower end of the shell and prevents disengagement of the device from this end of the cord, disengagement of the device from the opposite end of the cord being prevented owing to the attachment of the cord to the article.

I claim as my invention 1. An identification device of the class described comprising, in combination, a shell or casing, a member removably attached thereto and carrying a flexible tag adapted to be inclosed within said shell or casing, the shell and member having alined openings therethrough, and a flexible member for attaching the device to the article to be identified, said flexible member extending through said openings in the shell and member.

2. An identification device of the class described comprising, in combination, a shell or casing having an opening, a member removably attached thereto and having a tu bular extension in alinemeut with said opening in the shell, the shell adapted to rcceive said tubular extension, a flexible tag wound on said extension, and an attaching .membcr extending through said tubular extension and the opening in the shell.

3. An identification device of the character described comprising, in combination, a shell, a head detachably applied thereto and having an identification tag wound thereon, and an attaching member extending through said shell and said head and having the latter rotatably and axially movable thereon, the shell adapted to inclose said identification tag.

4. An identification device of the character described comprising a shell having oppositely arranged apertures in its wall, a head detachably applied to one of said apertures and adapted to close tlie same, said head carrying a tubular extension which extends into the shell and. has an end adapted to engage the interior of the shell around the other aperture therein, a flexible identification tag wound upon the exterior of said extension, and an attaching member for the device extending loosely through said extension and connected to the shell.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE S. GUY.

Witnesses:

W. B. NELSON, LEWIS KAUFMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 1). C. 

